More than 25 years ago, when website development agencies were at the forefront of digital innovation, the concept of technology in marketing was just taking shape. Back in 1996, introducing websites to businesses was a groundbreaking venture, often leaving marketing executives in awe of the potential of interactive and frequently updated content.

Fast forward to today, and the reliance on technology, particularly generative AI and content automation tools, has become indispensable in executing and measuring content efforts. Marketers are often cautioned to master these technologies, but what does “mastering technology” actually entail? Is it about being faster or better?

Speed and Cynicism in Technology

The quest for speed and efficiency has been a driving force in the development of marketing technologies. Recent research indicates a growing cynicism among marketers, many of whom feel overwhelmed by the rapid changes in media and marketing technologies. Scott Brinker’s annual MarTech Landscape reports that there are now over 11,000 marketing software solutions, all promising to empower marketers to move faster.

As we look ahead to 2024, a crucial realization is dawning upon marketers: In the race for speed, what essential elements of work are we overlooking in the space between technology’s reading and writing capabilities?

The Compromise of Speed in Creative Processes

Technology offers numerous shortcuts. It can suggest concepts, automate prioritization, and even craft narratives for specific audiences. However, there comes a point when we must consider whether certain aspects of the creative process should remain untouched by technology.

Consider a recent example from my experience with a financial services company. The vice president of marketing recounted how, as an intern two decades ago, she manually researched and wrote job descriptions, gaining invaluable insights into the business. Today, such tasks are readily delegated to AI-generative content tools, which accomplish in minutes what used to take days. But at what cost? Are we sacrificing deep, human understanding for the sake of efficiency?

Reevaluating the “Faster is Better” Mantra

In 2023, 45% of marketing leaders believed their companies compromised core values for short-term wins, a significant increase from the previous year. About 40% of marketers cited pressure for short-term success and lack of time for strategic thinking as major barriers. These statistics highlight an overemphasis on speed, often at the expense of quality and thoughtful execution.

The Irony of Technology and Human Creativity

The push for technology to read and write faster risks compressing the space for human creativity and wisdom. An example is the growing acceptance of “70% solutions” in the pursuit of speed, where businesses willingly settle for ideas that are subpar but faster to implement.

This trend is echoed in the advertising industry, where a display ad is considered valuable if 50% or more of it is visible for at least one second – a standard that prioritizes speed over quality.

Slowing Down for Quality

It’s time to shift the focus from speed to purposeful utilization of technology. The true challenge lies in understanding the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of our actions. If the objective is merely to do things faster, we miss the opportunity to fill the gap between reading and writing with meaningful human input.

Consider embracing the role of an anti-real-time marketer, where the emphasis is on allowing human creativity and insight to enhance marketing efforts. Yes, technology aids in the process, but the ultimate goal should not be to outpace AI in speed. Instead, it should be to complement AI’s capabilities with human quality and ingenuity.

Conclusion

As we navigate the complexities of AI-driven marketing, it’s crucial to remember that being slower than AI is not a drawback; it’s a valuable feature. It represents the human element that enriches our stories and makes our marketing efforts truly resonate. In a world increasingly dominated by speed, taking the time to craft thoughtful, well-developed strategies remains an invaluable practice.

I talked about the Twittar plugin in a previous post. But learned that the read me text file was only useful for installing the necessary php code into WordPress themes that don’t have comment threading enabled.

Since most new themes past version 2.7, pull the comments section from functions.php file, that is where you have to edit the avatars in order to show the twittar settings.

First open you functions.php, and look for a line of code that says:

function custom_comment()

This is where your new comments are pulled from when you have the threaded comments enabled.

Now just find <?php echo get_avatar( $comment, $args['avatar_size'] ); ?> & replace with <?php twittar(70, "", "", "avatar avatar-70 photo", 1, "R"); ?>. Keep in mind that you will need to edit the Twittar setting to fit your site.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has transformed how bloggers and business owners optimize their websites. As AI technologies like ChatGPT continue to evolve, understanding how to harness these tools for SEO becomes increasingly valuable. This article delves into practical ways to use AI for SEO and highlights some of the top tools in the market.

The Evolution of AI in SEO

AI tools, renowned for their ability to generate content, are now pivotal in SEO strategies. They assist in creating effective meta-descriptions, identifying relevant keywords, analyzing competition, and much more. Let’s explore the diverse ways you can use AI for your site’s SEO.

Brainstorming Keywords with AI

Keywords are crucial for driving traffic and improving page rankings. AI tools can simplify the process of keyword identification, offering suggestions based on your content summary. For example, asking ChatGPT for a list of keywords on “best food markets in Europe” can yield valuable insights.

AI-powered SEO tools like Rank Math’s Content AI can integrate these keyword suggestions directly into your dashboard. However, it’s advisable to validate these keywords through tools like Google’s Keyword Planner for search volume and competition.

Generating Meta Titles and Descriptions

AI can significantly reduce the time spent optimizing content. Tools like Rank Math can generate SEO meta titles and descriptions based on your primary keywords and topic. These tools often allow customization to align the generated content with your brand or style.

Advanced Competition Analysis

AI takes competition analysis to the next level. Tools like WriterZen can display a list of domains ranking for your target keyword. Rank Math, for instance, can reveal a competitor’s metadata, links ratio, common keywords, and more, enabling you to strategize effectively to outrank them.

Exploring Linking Opportunities

A robust linking strategy is vital for SEO. AI tools can suggest relevant pages for internal linking or third-party site links. This feature is particularly useful for large blogs, helping maintain a coherent internal linking structure.

Optimizing Existing Content

AI tools can audit your content, identifying areas for improvement such as missing keywords, meta descriptions, and content structure. They can also recommend ideal word counts, headings, images, and links based on topic and competition analysis.

Top AI Tools for SEO in 2024

Let’s look at some of the top AI tools that can enhance your SEO strategy:

1. Rank Math: This popular SEO plugin now includes AI tools like a meta title and description generator, a topic research tool, and a content editor. Its Content AI tool, integrated into the Block Editor, suggests related keywords, FAQ sections, and links based on your primary keyword.
2. Surfer SEO: Surfer SEO offers an AI writing assistant as part of its all-in-one content optimization solution. It guides you through creating optimized posts with keyword suggestions, headings, link counts, and more.
3. Outranking: Outranking’s AI-assisted writing tool helps create SEO-friendly content fitting your brand’s voice and style. It also offers outline optimization based on user intent and competitor analysis to help you outrank them.
4. WriterZen: WriterZen generates content briefs based on your main keyword or topic, providing structure and optimization suggestions. It includes competitor analysis features for insights into top-ranking keywords, backlinks, and performance.

More Plugins here

OPTIN Monster

Conclusion

AI for SEO is a game-changer, offering efficient ways to generate meta titles and descriptions, brainstorm keywords, and optimize content. Tools like Rank Math, Surfer SEO, Outranking, and WriterZen provide advanced capabilities to enhance your SEO efforts. As AI continues to evolve, leveraging these tools can significantly improve your website’s performance in search engine rankings.